On November 8, 2017, A Wider Circle hosted The 2017 Forum on Ending Poverty: Creating Solutions and Positive Change at The National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

The forum featured morning presentations and panels by leaders in the field of poverty eradication, followed by an afternoon poverty simulation. Speakers D. Watkins (author of The Beast Side and The Cook Up) and Dr. C. Nicole Mason (author of Born Bright: A Young Girl’s Journey from Nothing to Something in America) shared their important views on poverty and how purposeful action can lead to substantive change. Influential voices in the non-profit world, Jean-Michel Giraud of Friendship Place and Dr. Bruce Purnell of Higher Hopes, also focused on how our community can come together to promote love and compassion.

The afternoon concluded with a compelling poverty simulation, which fostered a greater understanding of the daily struggles of individuals and families experiencing poverty. The debrief was one of the best yet and gave us great hope for the future of this work.

We are looking forward to our next Forum to be held in the spring of 2018 – check back soon for more information!

Above, D. Watson, emphasized the importance of finding our common humanity in order to uplift our neighbors in need. “My grandma always said, lift while you climb.”

Above, Dr. C. Nicole Mason, explained how her childhood in an at-risk neighborhood in Los Angeles shaped the evolution of her advocacy for those seeking to rise out of poverty.

Above, Jean-Michel Giraud of Friendship Place and Dr. Bruce Purnell of Higher Hopes reminded the audience of the long road ahead of us in the movement to end poverty, but instilled a sense of hope in our society’s collective ability to overcome these great obstacles.

In the afternoon, attendees participated in a poverty simulation, shown above. Participants experienced the struggles of living paycheck to paycheck in this eye-opening exercise, which illuminated the difficulty of providing a life for a family with limited resources.